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An old song says that "love makes the world go around." If you watch Americans on Valentine's Day, you can believe it. The whole country breaks out with little red hearts. Love-struck people give cards, flowers and candy to their sweethearts. You might call it an annual celebration of love.
Americans are romantic all year long, but especially on February 14. Valentine's Day gives people an excuse to ask someone they admire to "be their valentine."
Conversation I
Stan: Hey, Angela! I've been looking all over for you!
Angela: Well, hi, Stan! Happy Valentine's Day!
Stan: Thanks! Happy Valentine's Day to you, too! Uh, Angela.
Angela: Yes?
Stan: Well, I...uh...got you a little something for Valentine's Day. Would you be my valentine?
Angela: How sweet! The flowers are beautiful! And you know how much I love chocolate! Sure, I'd be honored to.
Stan: Would you like to go to the school party with me this Saturday?
Angela: Yes, I would. I'll look forward to it.
The American concept of love and romance begins with dating. Young people date in several ways. At first they might have group dates with several boys and girls together. Later, they start going on single dates-just one boy and one girl. Sometimes a boy and a girl will go to a movie. Maybe they will go to a party at a friend's house. Or they might go out to eat.
When two couples go out together, we call it double dating. A friend might even arrange a blind date for you with someone you don't know. That doesn't mean you keep your eyes closed the whole evening! You just don't know who your partner will be until the time for the date. If someone asks you for any kind of date, and you don't want to go, you may politely say, "No, thanks."
Conversation II
Jeff: Hi, Tanya! Boy, it's freezing today, isn't it?
Tanya: You're not kidding! I'm glad I'm wearing a hat and gloves!
Jeff: Yeah, you look warm all bundled up like that. Say, I was wondering, would you like to go to the Valentine's banquet with me next week?
Tanya: Well, I really don't think I can. I have other plans. Thanks for asking, though.
Jeff: That's O.K. Maybe some other time.
Tanya: Yeah. Well, here comes my bus. See you later!
Americans view dating differently from people in other cultures. American young people see a date as a time just to have fun. They don't always have a romantic interest in mind. Someone may go out with one person this week, and another person the next. After a while, a boy and a girl may decide they want to "go steady." This means they think of each other as "boyfriend and girlfriend." It also means they don't want to date anyone else. Romance is beginning to bloom.
Romantic love is very much a part of American culture. Movies, TV shows and books in America all picture people falling in love. Americans know that no romance is perfect, but still they try to find the ideal person. Actually, love is a part of every culture, not just American culture. People all over the world search for happiness in a loving relationship.
Maybe love does make the world go around.
美式爱情
有首老歌是这么唱的「爱使世界旋转」。如果你在情人节观察美国人，你就会相信，因为全国突然出现许多小红心，恋爱的人会送卡片、花和糖果给他们的情人，也许我们可以称这是个爱的节庆。
美国人全年都是罗曼蒂克的，尤其是在二月十四日。情人节给了人们借口请他们所欣赏的人做他们的情人。
会话一
史丹：安琪拉！我到处找你！
安琪拉：嗨！史丹！情人节快乐！
史丹：谢谢！我也祝你情人节快乐！嗯，安琪拉……
安琪拉：什么事？
史丹：我…，嗯，我有一样小东西送给你当情人节的礼物，你愿意做我的情人吗？
安琪拉：多美啊！这花好漂亮！而且你知道我有多喜欢巧克力！我觉得很荣幸能够成为你的情人。
史丹：这星期六你要和我一起参加学校的舞会吗？
安琪拉：好啊！我会去，并且满心期待地！
美国人的观念认为爱情和罗曼史是从约会开始的。年轻人约会有几种情况。刚开始，他会有群体式的约会，就是几个男生几个女生一起约出去。之后，他们才开始单独的约会，就是一男一女。有时他们会去看电影，也可能去朋友家聚餐，或者到外面吃饭。
当有两对一起出去时，我们称之为「两对式约会」，甚至朋友也会安排你不认识的人帮你相亲。所谓相亲（blind date）并不是指让你整晚都把眼睛蒙起来，而是一直要等到约会那天你才知道对象是谁。如果有人以任何一种方式约你，但你不想去，你只管礼貌地说：「谢谢你，我不去。」
会话二
杰夫：嗨！田雅，老天！今天真冷啊！
田雅：你说得没错，我真庆幸戴了帽子和手套！
杰夫：是啊！你裹得那样看起来很暖和。我在想你下星期要不要和我去参加情人节的宴会？
田雅：我想我真得没办法去，我有另外的计划，不过还是谢谢你的邀请。
杰夫：没关系，以后还有机会！
田雅：啊！我的车来了，再见！
美国人看「约会」的角度与其它文化不同。美国的年轻人只是把约会当做享乐的时刻，并不都是有感情牵涉在内，有的人也许这星期和这个人出去，下星期和另一个人。过一阵子之后，一男一女可能决定他们要「稳定下来」，就是他们将彼此视为男女朋友，也就是说他们不再和其它人约会。爱情将开始绽放。
爱情是美国文化的一大部份，美国的电影、电视和书都刻画人们坠入情网的事，美国人知道没有一个爱情是完美的，但他们仍旧试图寻找理想伴侣。事实上，爱情是每一种文化的一部份而非仅是美国文化的。我们可以看出全世界的人都想在爱情里寻求快乐。
也许爱情确实使世界旋转吧！
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